New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-05-29
TIRELESS LITTLE SLAVES.
TOYS THAT EARN MONEY DAY AND NIGHT

Ennui Is moro unbearable than ignorance At
least, that IL the way the philosopher puts It, He
doesn't base the rash assertion on the comparative
drawing powers" of circus and al chronological
lecture, but the acknowledged superiority OF the
working model, with music box attachment, over
the patent weighing machine a nickel catcher.
The facts from which the inference drawn wore
taken on the authority of old Mr.. Benton, who Is
species of boated monopolst in the matter of nickel
catching devices Mr. Benton is the worthy citizen
of Providence who makes all the hight, finished work.
ing models which frequently in eoi geously
furnshed-wel in gOrgeously furnished hotel Offices,
suimounted by placard directing the curious to
drop in q nickel and shee wheels go wound" The
other morning this ingenious Yankee sat back in
down to wn Office and related the wonders OF his
models to an admiring circle, OF which the philoso-
pher and the scribe formed part.
"Pvc just been around collecting" said the old
gentleman, an Pm tired carting the nickes about.
That there machine I've got up the Eden Musee has
been there three months and took in nigh to $4U0
All the musees wild after em. 1t don't make
dlference what they are, whether they are Corliss
engines steamships windnills or worlds expositons.
SO long as the wheels round and the music plays
when you drop in the Nickel the public is ready and
willin' to put up the nickel"
"Aren't these patent weighing machines crowding
you out !" asked the philosopher.
"Crowdin' me out ~ repeated the inventor with
plying infection and scornful wave Of the hand
" One o. them weighin' machine, is doin' well If it
$50 tn $40 in good place, an the average of all
have out is about $27 a week"
1t this startling fact that led the philosopher 10
moralize the desire or mankind to be amused
rather than instructed to the weight of the
human body
"What doyou pay for the privilege OF exhibiting
your models p asked a listener.a
"Nuthin' at all - was the explicit answer Too
many folks willin' to give me ace on those
terms for to listen anythin' hghe- These folks
up at Ye Olde Londone Streete wanted me to come
up and
"'What commission do you allow 7 they asked.
@'Whst do you expect said |.
"'Fifty per cent they said.
"Good mornin', said l. an they've been wrtin' me
| twice a week then to come up again Why,
the Sea Beach Palace people down at Coney Island
have given me space Sx2O feet right in the middle
of the buildn' at nomna. rent OF go for the sea-
son. What do the models cost Well, from $500 to
81 500 apiece. an they'll pay for Themselves In
| year. you can see. Sometimes steamboat COM
pany will buy lot of models OF their newest steamer
and put EN- out tor advertisements. That way they
get the advertising an the nicKels too Most OF 'em
own an run myself, though there's money in it
that way. I've been gettin letters from Europe
| lately They want some over there" 49,
What's the most elaborate model you havep
What call the Industrial Exhibition is about the
biggest goin'. In the middle is windmill with
sails that open an shet like the real article Then
and dynamo The dynamo is the genooine article
and runs current to SiusEdson tori edo ioatin in
/ pond. When a nickel is put in the box the windmill
clacks the saw buzzes, the drill bores. the SEWN
machine clicks and the torpedo goes scootin round
the pond.
Z" Wait till fall though, when l bring out my
country seat. That's goin' TO be masterpiece
| There's the moss-covered bucket hangin' In the
WELL pretty gal sandin In the porch. COW standin
under shed and canary bird sitn' on the fence.
When you start things up the gal waves her handker
chie. the moss-covered bucket gees up an down with
reireshin kerchug the chews her cud an blinks
| no siuQs
you couldn't tell the difference and all for the small
sum OF cents, get your change at the BAR"
| Mr. Benton is evidently getting rich fast on the
| hard-earned nckels OF his mechanical slaves that
toll on whether he Is asleep awake. II he branches
out much further there threatens to be contraction
Of the currency at least, OF the Scent denomination